Fife-based community groups are being invited to take over the running of some under-used buildings across the region.

A total of nine buildings across Fife are up for grabs following a review of the local authorities estate last year.

The buildings, which are no longer fit for purpose or don't meet the needs of local people, require maintenance which would result in substantial costs for the council if it were to maintain them.

The nine buildings being put forward are:

• Burgh Chambers, Tayport

• Corn Exchange, Cupar

• Elie & Earlsferry Town Hall

• Glebe Park Centre, Kirkcaldy

• Gregory Hall, Tayport

• St Monans Town Hall

• Town Hall, Auchtermuchty

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• Victoria Hall, Auchtermuchty

• Victory Hall, St Andrews

The council's Community Planning Manager, Tim Kendrick, said: "The way we deliver services is always evolving. We've accumulated buildings over decades and many are no longer planned around what people need now. The council looked carefully at all of our buildings in each of the seven local areas across Fife, considering running and maintenance costs, how they are used and the needs of the local community.

"Using this information, councillors thought about better ways to sustain local services and facilities, and identified buildings which can be sold, buildings which could be used in a different way, and buildings which should be kept to deliver a wider range of council and community services.

"Reducing the number of buildings the council runs doesn't mean closing them all. We have already seen some halls and centres successfully transferred to local communities that have access to funding and resources that just aren't available to the council. We want this to continue and funding has been set aside through the Community Asset Renewal and Transfer Fund to support community groups with this. We want to work with the local communities to develop a sustainable use of these buildings long into the future."

(LM)